Induction of interferon‐α production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells by immune complexes containing nucleic acid released by necrotic or late apoptotic cells and lupus IgG

Abstract

Necrotic and late apoptotic cells release material that, combined with SLE IgG, induces production of IFN alpha in PDCs. The IFN alpha inducers probably consist of immune complexes (ICs) containing RNA and possibly DNA as essential interferogenic components. The presence of such interferogenic ICs could explain the ongoing production of IFN alpha in SLE and could be of etiopathogenic importance.